Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones penned these words back in 1965; he wrote, "I can't get no, oh, no, no, no, hey, hey, hey, That's what I say, I can't get no, I can't get no, I can't get no satisfaction, no satisfaction"
I don't think Mick's desire for satisfactions is any different than our own. Our hearts also cry out for satisfaction. Every person in the world wants to know the secret for happiness. We’re all desperately seeking for the person, place, or thing that will meet our expectations, needs, and wants. We want to find what will truly satisfy the desires of our heart.
Chuck Swindoll writes that the formula for success with satisfaction is the following:
Submission + Humility - Worry = God-Honoring Success with Satisfaction
How can submission and humility = satisfaction? It seems highly counterintuitive.
The word submit is one of the most difficult, disliked, and divisive words in the Bible. But Paul says to Christians, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
Kevin Miller writes this about submission: "Submission means I voluntarily limit what I might do naturally in this relationship in order to benefit you. If I have more power, instead of doing what I might do naturally and use that power to make my life easier, out of reverence for Christ I'll use my power instead to serve you. I'll give up even my life in order to benefit you."
He continues, "Submission also means that if I have less power, instead of doing what I might do naturally and fight you every step of the way, I'm going to show you respect and honor."
It would seem that satisfaction is found in doing what I want to do, getting my way, doing life on my terms, definitely NOT found in willingly deferring and serving another.
So how does giving up my selfish desires and personal comfort lead to satisfaction?
When God created the universe, He designed that satisfaction would come from serving. God designed you to be happiest when you are giving your life away for His glory. Why? Because He wants you to become like Him.
Jesus said in Mark 8:35, "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it."
And Jesus not only taught us how to love and serve--He demonstrated it!
In our text in Colossians we saw these words: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
So practically, how do we humbly submit and serve "as for the Lord" as if "we are serving the Lord Christ" for God's glory?
I think the answer is found in 1 Peter 2:9--"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
- As you serve, proclaim the excellencies of Jesus!
- As you serve, preach the gospel to yourself--"You called me out of darkness into Your marvelous light! Thank you Jesus!"
- As you serve, ask good questions of those you're serving. Get to know them. Build friendship and community.
- Do your best as you serve.
- Trust God's promises as you serve (e.g. 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35)
- As you serve, prayerfully admit to God you don't have the strength but He does.
- As you serve, thank God you have the health and ability to serve.
- Apply Godly, Scriptural wisdom when serving.
- Take a Sabbath. Have a day of rest every week.
- Get proper sleep, exercise and eat healthy.
